Can a l clean lowcarb, whole food diet cure (or at least manage) PCOS?>>>>

UpErMei · 01-22-2012, 10:48 AM

I am in the process of getting my life and health in order. I am on Yaz bcp and Spironolactone for mild PCOS. I say it's mild, but it doesn't feel mild. When I'm not on these meds I have OVER THE TOP oily skin/hair, acne, and hair loss. My testosterone gets way high.

I'm 37 yo and would like to go off the pill once and for all. I've tried several times, but my symptoms always come back with a vengeance. I will be honest though...I've never eaten clean lc during these times. IDK if I even lowcarbed when I tried before.

Thoughts?

CarolynF · 01-23-2012, 07:21 AM

I have heard that LCing is the best way to eat for PCOS patients. Food is medicine so that might help you.

There is nothing wrong with using medication to control your disease. Food doesn't do it all, but helps alot.

gab · 01-23-2012, 08:31 AM

Hi - my doc told me low carb was the best way to manage my pcos. As soon as I switched, my cycles regulated and I dropped weight like it was water. My skin cleared up as well.

I have not been eating lc lately and have noticed more acne and weight is creeping. I'm on my way back to eating true lc.

Good luck

gab · 01-23-2012, 09:20 AM

Janknitz · 01-24-2012, 06:23 PM

12 years ago I did both low carb dieting and metformin and it had great effects. I had my first ovulatory period within a month of low carbing and became regular after that. I lost 40 lbs in 6 months. My cycles were still too long (32 days), so I was shocked that 6 months after starting all this I was pregnant--we had to have IVF for my first child.

I'm not 100% positive the diet alone would have done it, maybe yes, maybe no. On this low carb journey 12 years later, diet alone isn't doing it, but I'm extremely insulin resistant now (boderline diabetes) and perimenopausal (52 years of age). I'm not sure what my PCOS should be like at this stage of life anyway. I started back on Metformin, because pretty strict low carbing alone was not really getting my insulin levels where they should be. (And this time we use BC--LOL!)

Insulin is the thing to watch to see if low carbing alone is doing it for you. If you have a good doctor (usually you need a knowledgeable endocrinologists to understand all the ins and outs of insulin resistance) you can test your C-peptide for a good measure of what your insulin is doing. Testosterone should also go down and stay down.

If diet alone doesn't do it, Metformin is a possibility. It's not the easiest medication to be on, but it's VERY effective in PCOS--just be careful if you don't want a pregnancy, because I'm living proof it can happen! (My little "surprise" is 11 and the joy of my life!).

UpErMei · 01-26-2012, 08:03 AM

Thanks you 3!

I have officially gone off Yaz bcp, but still take 100mg of Spironolactone. I'm hoping spiro, lc, and God will help me be symptom free!

01-22-2012, 10:48 AM	#1
UpErMei Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 319 Gallery: UpErMei Stats: 158/165/128	Can a clean lowcarb, whole food diet cure (or at least manage) PCOS?>>>> I am in the process of getting my life and health in order. I am on Yaz bcp and Spironolactone for mild PCOS. I say it's mild, but it doesn't feel mild. When I'm not on these meds I have OVER THE TOP oily skin/hair, acne, and hair loss. My testosterone gets way high. I'm 37 yo and would like to go off the pill once and for all. I've tried several times, but my symptoms always come back with a vengeance. I will be honest though...I've never eaten clean lc during these times. IDK if I even lowcarbed when I tried before. Thoughts? __________________ If a man constantly aspires is he not elevated? Henry David Thoreau Last edited by UpErMei; 01-22-2012 at 11:47 AM..

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01-23-2012, 07:21 AM	#2
CarolynF Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 36,822 Gallery: CarolynF Stats: 195/141/139 WOE: Eat Fat, Get Thin Start Date: January 2001	I have heard that LCing is the best way to eat for PCOS patients. Food is medicine so that might help you. There is nothing wrong with using medication to control your disease. Food doesn't do it all, but helps alot.

01-23-2012, 08:31 AM	#3
gab Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NY Posts: 2,803 Gallery: gab WOE: Atkins Start Date: March 6, 2013	Hi - my doc told me low carb was the best way to manage my pcos. As soon as I switched, my cycles regulated and I dropped weight like it was water. My skin cleared up as well. I have not been eating lc lately and have noticed more acne and weight is creeping. I'm on my way back to eating true lc. Good luck

01-23-2012, 09:20 AM	#4
gab Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NY Posts: 2,803 Gallery: gab WOE: Atkins Start Date: March 6, 2013	.

01-24-2012, 06:23 PM	#5
Janknitz Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,752 Gallery: Janknitz Stats: 254/195/150 WOE: Low Carb High Fat, No Grains Start Date: June 16, 2011	12 years ago I did both low carb dieting and metformin and it had great effects. I had my first ovulatory period within a month of low carbing and became regular after that. I lost 40 lbs in 6 months. My cycles were still too long (32 days), so I was shocked that 6 months after starting all this I was pregnant--we had to have IVF for my first child. I'm not 100% positive the diet alone would have done it, maybe yes, maybe no. On this low carb journey 12 years later, diet alone isn't doing it, but I'm extremely insulin resistant now (boderline diabetes) and perimenopausal (52 years of age). I'm not sure what my PCOS should be like at this stage of life anyway. I started back on Metformin, because pretty strict low carbing alone was not really getting my insulin levels where they should be. (And this time we use BC--LOL!) Insulin is the thing to watch to see if low carbing alone is doing it for you. If you have a good doctor (usually you need a knowledgeable endocrinologists to understand all the ins and outs of insulin resistance) you can test your C-peptide for a good measure of what your insulin is doing. Testosterone should also go down and stay down. If diet alone doesn't do it, Metformin is a possibility. It's not the easiest medication to be on, but it's VERY effective in PCOS--just be careful if you don't want a pregnancy, because I'm living proof it can happen! (My little "surprise" is 11 and the joy of my life!).

01-26-2012, 08:03 AM	#6
UpErMei Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 319 Gallery: UpErMei Stats: 158/165/128	Thanks you 3! I have officially gone off Yaz bcp, but still take 100mg of Spironolactone. I'm hoping spiro, lc, and God will help me be symptom free!